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AU $27.43

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List price AU $36.99Save 25%

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Get it by Tue, 4 Sep - Mon, 10 Sep from Auckland, New Zealand

• Brand new condition

• 30-day returns - Buyer pays return postage

This story follows his exploits across scorching Arabic deserts, through steamy Indian jungles and mountain snowstorms. He eventually travelled to the Northern Territory in search of gold and retired a wealthy man.

About this product

Description

Description

A narrative account of the life and times of one of Australia's most extraordinary adventurers - a man who crossed Australia more than 70 times in the early part of the 20th century - by bicycle and car. In 1927 he acheived the greatest motoring feat of the times, driving a car from London to Melbourne. This story follows his exploits across scorching Arabic deserts, through steamy Indian jungles and mountain swstorms. In between these journeys he made a collection of documentaries and films of his encounters with the outback. He documented his exploration of Australia in his book, BATTLEFRONTS OF OUTBACK. He eventually travelled to the Northern Territory in search of gold and retired a wealthy man.

Author Biography

Warren Brown is well known as a cartoonist for the Daily Telegraph, and has had regular programs on ABC radio and TV. He writes on Australian war history, and is the regular MC at the ANZAC Day ceremonies at Gallipoli. He is also passionately interested in, and involved with, the restoration of and all things to do with vintage motor vehicles.

Ratings and reviews

Most relevant reviews

In our fast paced world of jet travel, internet, mobile 'phones and more it is easy to forget how our grand parents and great grand parents lived and often thrived.
Warren Brown has researched the life and times of one such man; Francis Birtles was a man of action. He saw more of Australia by bicycle than the majority of Australian motorists today. He was with the first west to east crossing of the continent by automobile in 1912 in a motor car largely made of wood, was a single cylinder and chain drive to skinny little wheels.
Brown does not portray Birtles as a saint, he presents him warts and all. There is only one man who can claim to be the first to drive from London to Sydney in a motor car and Warren Brown's book tells us of that man, Francis Birtles.

A gripping read for anyone who appreciates a pioneering spirit and curious about those driven to achieve the impossible. Brown describes the life of this cycling and motoring adventurer very well, the triumphs, the failures and the character flaws.
I was amazed at the guts and stubbornness of Birtles. He let nothing beat him, not the jungle, the outback, head-hunters or mechanical breakdown. I can’t decide whether he was determined or simply crazy.
Regardless, this largely forgotten hero was an awesome individual and certainly made a huge contribution to Australia and pioneer motoring. Well worth the purchase price.

Warren Brown has done an excellent job of writing this book. Unfortunately Francis Birtles remains largely unknown in Australia. If he had been an American the whole world would know all about him. It is time a decent movie was made about Birtles exploits. Driving from London to Australia today on the same route Birtles pioneered would be a big enough challenge for anybody. I almost read the book cover to cover in one session. All Australians should read the book. Birtles is the stuff of true legends. His famous car the Sundowner still exists but languishes in a government wear house in Canberra instead of being on permanent display in the National Museum. Wake up Australia.
Regards,
Terry C.